gssbsecretariat@globalreporting.org

Item 07 – 2024 draft Project
Schedule addendum to the GSSBWork Program 2023-2025
For GSSB approval
Date29 April 2024

Meeting

16 May 2024

Objective

This document sets out the 2024 Project Schedule addendum to the GSSB Work
Program 2023-2025 and includes background and context to the draft schedule2024 addendum.
The addendum is reflective of the latest GSSB decisions and the latest project
updates.
The GSSB will be asked to approve the 2024 Project Schedule addendum to theGSSB Work Program 2023-2025 at the May meeting.
After approval, the project schedule addendum to the GSSB Work Program
20223-2025 will be published on the GRI website.

This document has been prepared by the GRI Standards Division and is made available to observers
at meetings of the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB). It does not represent an official
position of the GSSB. Board positions are set out in the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards. TheGSSB is the independent standard setting body of GRI. For more information visit
www.globalreporting.org.
© GRI 2024

Contents
1

Contents .................................................................................................................................................. 22

Introduction.............................................................................................................................................. 33

Overview of the draft Project schedule 2024....................................................................................... 3

4Development of GRI Standards .............................................................................................................. 45

Revision of Topic Standards ............................................................................................................... 46Development of new Topic Standards ................................................................................................ 4

7Development of new Sector Standards ............................................................................................... 5

8

Additional research project on the public sector .............................................................................. 5

9

Revision of Sector Standards .............................................................................................................. 6

10

Implementation of GRI Standards ........................................................................................................... 611Translations ......................................................................................................................................... 612Standard Interpretations, FAQs and guidance material ...................................................................... 613Digital taxonomy .................................................................................................................................. 614

Cooperation with partners ....................................................................................................................... 7

15

Addendum draft Project Schedule 2024 ................................................................................................. 8Page 2 of 13

16Introduction

17

Overview of the draft Project Schedule 2024

1819

The draft project schedule 2024 is presented in line with the elements in the GSSB Work Program2023-2025

202122232425262728•••

Development of GRI Standardso Revision of Topic Standardso Development of new Topic Standardso Development of new Sector Standardso Revision of Sector Standards
Implementation of GRI Standards
Cooperation with other standard-setting bodies and international organizations

More detailed information is given to contextualize the draft project schedule 2024 as presented in theaddendum.

Page 3 of 13

29

Development of GRI Standards

30

Revision of Topic Standards

3132
33
3435

The GSSB’s ambition is to revise or start the revision of all existing GRI Standards by the end of 2025
to guarantee that they reflect the global multi-stakeholder consensus and best practice, and continue
to promote the public interest. As a result, in line with the GSSB ambition, the standard settingactivities increased in 2023, resulting in 5 Topic Standard revision projects with 21 out of 32 Topic
Standards under revision.

36For 2024, the following Topic Standard revision projects are starting, ongoing, or will be finalised:

3738

•

GRI 101: Biodiversity 2024 (revision of GRI 304: Biodiversity 2016) – revised Standard is
published in January 2024.

3940
41
42
4344

•

Labor-related Topic Standards – revision started in 2022 and will continue until 2025.
The revision work takes a programmatic approach with three thematic sets of labor-related
Topic Standards. The Public exposure period for the first set of standards will start in Q2 of2024. The public exposure for the second set of Labor draft standards is planned to start inQ4 of 2024. Content development is on schedule to launch the publication of all revisedlabor-related standards in 2025.

4546
47

•

Climate change-related Topic Standards – revision started in early 2023. The public exposure
period ended in February 2024, and the content development will continue till the end of2024. Publication is expected in Q1 of 2025.

4849

•

Economic impacts-related Topic Standards – this project started at the end of 2023, andcontent development will continue in 2024 and 2025.

50
5152

•

Pollution-related Topic Standards – The project proposal was approved in the GSSB meetingof March 2024. After the commencement of the project scoping and approval of the WG
experts, the content development will start in Q3 2024 and continue in 2025.

53

Development of new Topic Standards

54

The GSSB identifies priorities for developing new Topic Standards based on:

55
5657

•
•
•

recommendations from the Sector Program;feedback from internal and external stakeholders; andresearch carried out by the Standards Division and third parties.

58596061

New Topic Standards aim to address topics not covered by the GRI Standards. Stakeholders’
feedback suggested that GRI Standards have gaps relating to cybersecurity and data privacy
reporting, as well as the payments to and contractual arrangements between organizations andgovernments.

62
63

The reporting on payments to and contractual arrangements between organizations and governments
is part of the revision of the economic impacts project, which started in 2023 and continues till 2025.

6465
66

The grouping of subjects related to digitalization, data protection, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence,and privacy is prioritized by the GSSB as a new topic to be researched in 2024. The research teamwill present the first results to the GSSB in Q3 2024.

67

For other potential new topics identified, the GSSB will work together with stakeholders to:68a) Research a topic’s relevance to be integrated into GRI Standards.

Page 4 of 13

6970b) Develop reporting guidance documents to assist organizations in reporting on subjects not yet
covered (in detail) by the GRI Standards.

7172

In addition, the GSSB has identified the need for further research and the development of practicalguidance on International Humanitarian Law.

73

Development of new Sector Standards

747576777879

Sustainability reporting by organizations operating within specific sectors has not consistently
addressed their most significant impacts. Therefore, the GSSB initiated the GRI Sector Program todevelop GRI Sector Standards to address this issue. To report in accordance with the 2021 GRI
Universal Standards, effective on 1 January 2023, an organization is required to use the applicable
GRI Sector Standard, if available. Sector Standards will be developed in line with the Program
description and the list of prioritized sectors.

80
81

After the completion of the pilot projects for the Sector Program on oil, gas, coal, agriculture,aquaculture, and fishing, work commenced on Priority Group 1: Basic Materials and Needs.

82
83

The following sectors from priority group 1 commenced in 2022, and for 2024, the following Sector
Standard revision projects are ongoing or will be finalized:

84•GRI 14: Mining Sector 2024 was published in February 2024.

85
86
87

•Sector Standard Project for Financial Services. The development of the GRI Sector
Standards for the financial sector started in 2023. Three sector standards are underdevelopment:
o88899091
92
939495969798ooBanking (commercial banks, consumer finance, savings institutions, mortgage
finance, microfinance institutions)
Insurance (life, non-life, and reinsurance)
Capital market (asset owners and managers, investment banks, custody, and stockexchanges)

The content development will continue in 2024 and 2025. The expected release of the final
standards is planned for Q3 2025.
•Sector Standard Project for Textile and Apparel. The content development for this sector
standard will continue in 2024 and 2025. The project is scheduled to release the final
publication in Q1 2026.

99

Additional research project on the public sector

100101102
103
104

While GRI Sector Standards can be used by any organization undertaking relevant public or private
activities, the Sector Program does not currently contemplate developing a standard that considers
the unique perspective and functions of the public sector. A research project is underway tounderstand existing practices, needs, and a workable structure for sustainability reporting in the publicsector.

105

The first results will be discussed and presented to the GSSB in Q2 of 2024.

Page 5 of 13

106

Revision of Sector Standards

107108
109
110

The GRI Sector Standards list the disclosures, GRI and non-GRI, identified as relevant for reportingby an organization in a sector. Most disclosures listed in a Sector Standard are drawn from the GRI
Topic Standards, so revising Topic Standards creates the need to update Sector Standards that referto disclosures in the updated Topic Standards.

111
112
113
114
115
116

With the publication of the new GRI 101 Biodiversity 2024, the first revision of the existing SectorStandards is upcoming, but this process will grow in scale and complexity with more Topic Standards
under revision/development. As a priority in 2023, a process was designed to preserve the linkage
between Topic and Sector Standards and ensure that Sector Standards include references to bestpractice reporting on the relevant topics. The process will be implemented with the first project startingin early 2025.

117
118

All Topic Standards, either revised or new, published during this work program’s duration will befollowed by a revision to any published Sector Standards that include relevant disclosures.

119

Implementation of GRI Standards

120121122

The GSSB is committed to supporting the implementation of the GRI Standards – available in a wide
range of languages – by developing materials that support interpretation and application andproviding users easy access to information reported based on the GRI Standards.

123

Translations

124

Translations of the GRI Standards are a strategic part of the GSSB work program.

125
126
127

Although English is the authoritative language of the GRI Standards, authorized translations ensurethat the world’s most widely used standards for sustainability reporting are accessible to a diverse
global audience.

128
129

Authorized translations of the GRI Standards are provided in 10 key languages. Translations will be
published in the quarter following the release of the English version of a new or revised GRI Standard.

130

Work will continue in 2024, with translations for GRI 101: Biodiversity and GRI 14: Mining Sector.

132

Standard Interpretations, FAQs and guidancematerial

133
134
135
136

Stakeholders can submit feedback to the GSSB about the application of the GRI Standards togssbsecretariat@globalreporting.org. After reviewing the feedback, if necessary, the GSSB will issueStandard Interpretations or FAQs or provide additional guidance to address implementation issues
identified by the users of the GRI Standards.

137

Digital taxonomy

138
139
140
141
142

The GSSB started the development of a digital taxonomy of the GRI Standards in 2023 to enable theorganizations using the GRI Standards to report in a digital format. The first release is foreseen for2024. This will enable information users to access, analyze, and compare this information moreeasily. The GSSB will aim to ensure compatibility with digital taxonomies to be developed by otherstandard-setting bodies and will seek to develop the taxonomy in conjunction with them.

131

Page 6 of 13

143

Cooperation with partners

144
145
146
147
148

The GSSB is committed to cooperating with global, national, and other jurisdictional standard-setting
bodies to ensure complementarity and interoperability between standards. As opportunities arise, thiscooperation may take the form of coordinating work programs, joint standard-setting, or thedevelopment of guidance materials, including mapping or linkage documents, to explain thecomplementarity and alignment between standards.

149
150
151

The GSSB will proactively invite partners to participate or observe in expert groups tasked withdeveloping GRI Standards, seek their input on drafts of standards, and invite them to GSSB meetings
to exchange views on standards under development and standard-setting priorities.

152
153
154
155

Next to continuing the collaborations with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) andthe European Financial Advisory Group (EFRAG) Sustainability Reporting Board (SRB), the GSSB isalso proactively seeking to establish relations with a wider set of regulators and issue-level
organizations like the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).

156
157
158

The GSSB will continue the dialogue with the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board(IAASB) and the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) and is committed tocontributing to their respective standard-setting agendas relevant to sustainability reporting.

159
160
161

The GSSB seeks to address the needs of the public sector for specific guidance on sustainability
reporting by exploring a collaboration with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board(IPSASB).

Page 7 of 13

gssbsecretariat@globalreporting.org

Addendum draft Project Schedule 2024
The table in this draft addendum outlines the schedule of projects for 2024.
The development of a GRI Standard takes approximately 24 months to complete.

2024
ProjectOutcome

Status at the end of 2023
Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Sector Standards

GRI Sector
GRI 14: Mining Sector
Standard Project2024
for Mining

GSSB Approval of the Final
Standard

Standard publishedGRI Sector
Standard Project Sector Standard forfor Textiles and textiles and apparel
ApparelContent development

Content development

Sector Standard forbanks

GRI Sector
Standard Project Sector Standard forfor Financial
insurance
Services
Sector Standard forcapital markets

Content development

Expected
approval public
exposure drafts

This document has been prepared by the GRI Standards Division and is made available to observers at meetings of the Global Sustainability Standards
Board (GSSB). It does not represent an official position of the GSSB. Board positions are set out in the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards. The GSSB isthe independent standard setting body of GRI. For more information visit www.globalreporting.org.
© GRI 2024

2024
ProjectOutcome

Status at the end of 2023
Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4
Expectedrelease of theresearch paper

Consultation paper on
Public sector
sustainability reporting for To startresearch project
the public sector

Topic Standards

GRI TopicGRI 101: Biodiversity
GSSB Approval of the Final
Standard Project 2024 (Revision of GRI 304:
Standardfor Biodiversity Biodiversity 2016)

Standard published

Revision program
including but not limitedto:
GRI 202: Market
Presence 2016 (Disclosure202-1)

GRI 401: Employment
GRI Topic2016
Standard Project GRI 402:
for Labor
Labor/Management
Relations 2016
GRI 404: Training andEducation 2016
GRI 405: Diversity andEqual Opportunity 2016
GRI 406: Nondiscrimination 2016

Content development

Content development ofexposure drafts

Public exposure
Public exposure firstsecond set ofset of drafts
draftsPage 9 of 13

2024
ProjectOutcomeStatus at the end of 2023
Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

GRI 407: Freedom ofAssociation andCollective
Bargaining 2016
GRI 408: Child Labor
2016
GRI 409: Forced orCompulsory Labor 2016
GRI 414: Supplier Social
Assessment 2016
Revision including but notlimited to:
GRI Topic
GRI 302: Energy 2016
Standard Project GRI 305: Emissions 2016
Public exposure period
Public exposure period ongoingendedfor Climate(Disclosures 305-1 to 305-5)
ChangeGRI 201: Economic

Content development

Performance 2016
(Disclosure 201-2)

Revision including but notlimited to:
GRI 201: Economic
Performance 2016
GRI Topic
Standard Project (Disclosures 201-1, 201-3and 201-4)
for Economic
GRI 202: MarketImpacts
Presence 2016

Approval of the working groupmembers

Content development(Disclosure 202-2)

GRI 203: Indirect
Economic Impacts 2016

Page 10 of 13

2024
ProjectOutcome

Status at the end of 2023
Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

GRI 204: Procurement
Practices 2016
GRI 205: Anti-corruption
2016
GRI 206: Anti-competitive
Behavior 2016
GRI 415: Public Policy
2016
Revision including but notlimited to:
GRI 305: Emissions 2016
GRI Topic
Approval of theStandard Project (Disclosures 305-6 and 305draft project proposal7)
for Pollution
GRI 306: Effluents andWaste 2016Approval of the project
proposalApproval of theworking groupmembers

Contentdevelopment(Disclosure 306-3)

Research on
sustainability reporting in
relation to the topic andDigitalization
subject of digitalization, To be started
research project
data protection,
cybersecurity, artificial
intelligence, and privacy

Expected first
results for GSSB
discussion

Implementation of GRI Standards

Page 11 of 13

2024
ProjectOutcome

Status at the end of 2023
Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Translation of GRI
Standards in 10 key
languages
Translations

GRI 101: Biodiversity2024
GRI 14: Mining Sector
2024

GRI XBRL
project

GRI Standards XBRLTaxonomy development Content development

IFRS and GRI
GHG emissions
interoperability
guideInteroperability
considerations for
GHG emissions when
applying GRI Standards
and ISSB Standards
Developed jointly withIFRS

All translations for GRI
101 and GRI 14
planned to be published

To be started

Development

Public exposure
expected

Release expected

ReleasedGRI Standards and ESRSInteroperability Index
Interoperability
Index GRI
Standards andESRS

Finalized draft version will
Draft version released
include GRI 101:
Biodiversity 2024

Final version
expected

Developed jointly with
EFRAG

Page 12 of 13

2024
ProjectOutcome

Status at the end of 2023
Q1

GRI Standards
and ESRS datapoint mapping

GRI Standardsand TNFDmapping

Q2

Q3

Q4

GRI Standards and ESRS
data point mapping
Final version
expected

Finalized draft version will Draft version released
include GRI 101:
Biodiversity 2024 update
Mapping between GRI
Standards and TNFD
Framework
Developed jointly with
TNFD

Joint case studies andguidance on the links
GRI and TNFD between nature-relatedcase studies and impacts and risks andopportunities
guidance-Development-Development

Final version
expected

Final version
expected

Developed jointly with
TNFD

Page 13 of 13